World

Bolkiah, sultan of Brunei, celebrates 50 years in power

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is marking 50 years on Brunei's throne with a spectacular and lavish ceremony at his golden-domed palace. Among the sultan's contemporary monarchs, only Queen Elizabeth II has had a longer reign.

Marking 50 years on throne

Brunei’s fabulously wealthy sultan marked 50 years on the throne in lavish style, traveling in a gilded chariot pulled by dozens of his subjects.

Bruneians waiting to see the sultan

Tens of thousands of well-wishers lined the streets, waving the country's flag and cheering as the sultan passed by in his chariot.

The sultan and the queen

The ruler and his wife, Queen Saleha, sat on golden thrones during a procession to mark his golden jubilee of accession to the throne in Bandar Seri Begawan. The 71-year-old is the 29th sultan of Brunei from a royal family that has ruled the country continuously for over 600 years.

All that glitters ...

Behind its gilded facade, Brunei is an absolute monarchy with strict Shariah-based laws. Homosexuality is punishable by death — by hanging or stoning.

The longer-reigning monarch

Only one living sovereign has ruled her people longer: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, pictured here with the sultan in 2015. She ascended to her throne on February 6, 1952.

A palace with 1,800 rooms

The sultan held his royal audience in the throne room of the palace, a vast complex of resplendent white buildings with golden domes and almost 1,800 rooms.

One of the world's richest nations

With a population of about 400,000 people, Brunei is one of the world's wealthiest nations — thanks in large part to abundant oil and gas reserves.

Two weeks of celebrations

The festivities will continue on Friday, when Asian and Middle Eastern leaders attend a banquet to mark the jubilee.